One of them says he will help Nazira Moldharia, held for giving herbal medicines, secure licence for practising legally
Just hours after officials from the Vishrambaug police station have arrested Nazira Moldharia for prescribing herbal medicines to patients, they received several calls from local politicians patronising the so-called doctor.
ADVERTISEMENT
Evem local corporator and former standing committee chairperson Ganesh Bidkar, personally visited the police station and told the officials that he would help Moldharai, who hailed from Gujarat, secure a licence so that she could carry out her practice legally.
He said, “Several of my near ones and fellow and politicians prefer her medicines. In fact, several people who are suffering from diabetes are no longer dependent on insulin shots.”
Raid and arrest
Moldharai was arrested after a four-member team of Dr Vijaykumar Powar, Dr Suresh Latne, and Dr Shubha Ranade, all from the Aundh district hospital, and Dr Yamini Adbe of NGO Human Rights Prakhar Shodh Mohim, raided her clinic in Rajendranagar.
The team discovered that Moldharai lacked necessary certificates to practice and was prescribing unregistered medicines to her patients. The action was taken based on a compliant filed by Dr Narendra Dabholkar, president Maharashtra Andhashrdhha Nirmulan Samiti.
Dabholkar said the NGO had received a complaint that Moldharia claimed she had herbal medicines to cure diabetes, gas trouble and acidity, among other ailments, following which he lodged a complaint against her with the Collector’s office.
At the time of raid, some 50 patients were present at her Rajendranagar clinic. When questioned, all of them claimed they had benefited from her herbal remedies. u00a0One of the patients said, “This my first visit. I have come from Usmanabad to take medicine for diabetes. My son-in-law told me about this doctor.”u00a0
There were several patients from Baramati and Satara who had come for the first time to seek Moldharia’s help. Also, there were patients who were consuming medicines prescribed by Moldharia for the past several years.
One of the patients, Kiran Pandit (Name changed) said, “I was suffering from various ailments and sought help from several doctors for a cure, but to no avail. I started taking herbal medicines prescribed by Dr Moldharia and got cured in just two months, then how can anybody claim that she’s a quack? Several patients are benefiting from her medicines and that
too without spending thousands at private clinics and so-called major hospitals in the city.” Commenting on the issue, Dr Vijaykumar Powar said, “As per Dabholkar’s complaint with the Collector’s office, a four-member team was formed, which conducted the raid.
The women lacked necessary medical certificate and the medicines she was prescribing were non-registered ones. Also, her visiting card stated that she was a multi-specialist and had Registered Medical Practitioners (RMP) printed on it. The term was last and was last used in 1960. How can she use an expired term in today’s time?”
PSI Arun Hatkar from the Vishrambag police station said Moldharia was booked under Sections 33/1 and 33/A of the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act, 1961. FDA officials were also present during the raid. Drug inspector S Mahendrakar said, “We will be sending medicine samples for tests.” u00a0